Rockets coach McHale takes leave of absence for family matter

The Rockets on Saturday were hit with news tougher than a difficult loss.

Coach Kevin McHale left Houston on Saturday afternoon for an indefinite leave of absence to attend to “a personal family matter.” McHale’s youngest daughter, Alexandra, has had health issues, and by the afternoon, McHale had returned to Minnesota. Assistant coach Kelvin Sampson took on the coaching responsibilities.

“We’re going to use it as motivation, to do it for him, for his daughter,” forward Carlos Delfino said before scoring five points in the Rockets’ 96-82 win over the Pistons. “Just because of the situation, we’re all in this. We’re a team. We’re a family. Unfortunately, he’s not here with us, but I’m sure he wants us to continue to be professional and give our 100 percent just like he was here.”

Sampson alerted
McHale had begun the day like most others, with a phone call to Sampson to discuss options and game plans, the continuation of their usual conversation on the flight home from Memphis. By early afternoon, it was determined he would have to travel to Minnesota.

“Our kids have great love and respect for Kevin,” Sampson said. “He’s a family member. A team is like a family. When a family member is hurting, we’re all hurting.

“He and I conversed a lot this morning just about the game last night. It was about 1:20, 1:25 I got a call from him and he was very emotional.”

McHale’s absence could challenge the young Rockets.

“Kevin is such a players’ coach,” Sampson said. “These guys love him. Even when he gets mad at them, he has a hard time getting mad at them. Often in life, we have things happen to us and we have to react to them. This is one of those times. We lost our leader. I think we can use this as a catalyst and fight for him.

“Focus and concentration come easier to mature people. Immature people don’t see the forest for the trees. We have a lot of guys like that. In their first and second year, they’re still looking at the arenas and the guys in the other uniforms. ‘I remember watching that guy play when I was a little kid.’ We’re a team that’s ready to win and win big now. We still have to grow.”

General manager Daryl Morey called players in the afternoon. Sampson addressed the team at an afternoon video session and walk-through.

‘Play like he’s here’
“Kevin is a devoted family man who is needed back home in Minnesota at the moment,” Morey said in a statement. “The Rockets organization will keep Kevin and his family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

By the time the Rockets arrived Saturday, they said they were determined to give McHale a good performance.

“It’s tough, man, because his family is going through a real tough time right now,” said second-year forward and captain Chandler Parsons, who had eight points. “The best thing we can do right now is play extremely hard, go out there and play like he’s here. Don’t change anything. Just go out there and get a win for him and for his family. We just keep him in our prayers and go out there and play hard.”